Puppies rescued after children attempt to roast them on bonfire

Melanie Johnson, a passer-by, spotted the children kicking the dogs and holding them over the bonfire on a canal bank in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. The group of children fled, abandoning the dogs, when challenged by Ms Johnson, 32. One of the puppies was singed.

Ms Johnson took the puppies home, before taking them to an RSPCA centre, where staff treated the dogs and are now looking to find them new homes.

She came across the incident while walking close to the canal, which is near her home, on Friday afternoon. "I just could not believe the cruelty being shown by these kids," Ms Johnson said. "If I hadn't turned up, I think they would have burned the dogs alive.



"I heard yelping and saw a group of children standing around a small bonfire. I ran over the bridge to them and saw one of the pups being kicked and the other being held over the fire. Most of the kids were aged 12, 13 or older. But some were as young at 10."

Jean Spencer, the RSPCA animal shelter manager, said: "The puppies are only seven weeks old. The fur on one of them was singed and the other has a small hernia.

"Fortunately, they are going to be fine. The lady who brought them in was in quite a state when she got here. She walked here with a puppy under each arm and was clearly very distressed. To think that children could be so cruel is really disgusting."